Francis l



(No Model.)

L. BECKER, CARD SHUPFLING APPARATUS.

Patented July 28,1896."

No; 564,774. I

UNITED STATES FRANCIS L. BECKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CARD-SH UFFLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming-part of Letters Patent No. 564,774, dated July 28, 1896.

Application filed July 22, 1895. Serial No. 556,812. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS L. BECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oard-Shufiiing Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the ac-' companying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for shufliing cards for any kind of game, such as euchre, whist, poker, &c.

The invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of very simple construction and operation, by which the cards can be thoroughly and rapidly shufifled orintermixed. It also positively separates any combination of cards, such, for instance, as three or four jacks, aces, &c., of which, when mixing by hand, advantage could be taken by experts,

if the dealer felt so disposed; on the other hand, the chance being that, after mixing, the operator may produce just such combinations,

which, however, are beyond the knowledge and possible calculation of the most expert player when using my apparatus. more, that the apparatus is not liable to get out of order, and it cannot be tampered with;

and, finally, that more than one deck of cards can be thoroughly shuflled .at one and the same time.

My invention consists in the peculiar construction of certain details and the arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described for shufiling. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same.- Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line a: a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the adjustable gage-plate.

In the accompanying drawings, A represezits a case or frame made of any suitable material, and either plain or ornamental, as desired. It has an opening at the top, through Furtherad to the accompanying drawings, in which which the cards are introduced upon a plate B. This forms a gage-plate and is provided with slots b, so that it is adjusted to or from 'the roller 0 in such manner as to allow the thickness of the card to be carried through the space by turning the roller. The roller 'is covered with rubber or its equivalent or suitable flexible material to cause a slight friction or rubbing action against the cards and cause one after the other to descend. Y

The rolleris journaled in bearings c, which can be adjusted to form a slight friction or binding action against the journals, so that the roller will not turn too freely. It has a is pivoted an automatic switch D on a rod (1,

secured to the case. It is of nearly triangular shape, having its sides slightly concaved and its upper point a little rounded, so as to prevent any possibility of any cards when descending from catching or sticking on said switch. .Its lower or nearly horizontal side is provided with a notch 11, the sides of which alternately come in contact with a rod e, by which the switch is held or stopped in its movements when oscillated. This is a very important feature of my invention. A short distance below'this switch are arranged two plates E F in an inclined manner and form the receptacles R S for the cards when they drop, after separation by the switch D. A presser G, consisting of a rectangular bent wire attached to a rod g, which extends at one side of the case and is provided with a weighted handle h, so that it can fall of its own weight,- when released, after having-been pressedagainst the cards by the hand, as

shown in Fig. 1 by the broken lines.

A short distance back of the switch D is placed a guide-plate H, secured to the side ofthe case, and serves to guide the cards in descending into the receptacle S or prevent them from passing over the plate F. After the cards have been mixed the hand can be insorted through an opening 0 at thelower side'- IOO of the case and both parts withdrawn ready I assists in throwing the cards toward the plate E. i The operation is as follows: The gage-plate isfirst adjusted toward the roller 0 by placing two (not more) cards between theroller and the gage-plate, pressing said plate tightly against said cards, and then fastening it firmly by the screws. Thus one card mustthe crank turned from the top away from you. Do not turn backward, and not" too fast, so

as to block the cards. The cards will then pass through the space and in descending strike against the switch on one side and, being guided by the guide-plate, will pass into the receptacle S. The switch D, by the card, will be thrown against the rod 6 and tilt toward the other side by it, and as the next card descends it will be carried into the receptacle R, and so-alternately until all the cards have been dropped. The hand is then inserted through the opening 0 and both parts of the pack can be withdrawn ready for dealing to the players.

The operation may be repeated, if desired, although usually not necessary.

Sometimes two cards may drop into either of the receptacles at the same time when turning the roller, but this is considered rather an advantage, becauseit prevents all systematical mixing and makes, therefore, a probable calculation of how the cards follow still more an impossibility. \Vhen three cards drop through at a time, the gage-plate must be adjusted.

\Vhenever the cards are not moved by the roller, by it having lost its adhesive quality through greasy matter, 850., from the fingers, it should be cleaned with a moist and clean cloth or rubbed with a piece of fine sandpaper.

The hole 0 extends from the lower part of the gage-plate to the bottom of the case, only small corners being left.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim ising essentially of a case, provided with a roller operated by a crank-handle and adapted to pass the cards between said roller and a gageplate, in combinationwith a pivoted switch and receptacles for receiving the cards, all as specified.

2. In the card shuifling apparatus described, the combination of a delivery-roller and an adjustable gage-plate constructed as shown, with a pivoted presser, consisting'of a rod, provided with a rectangularly-bent I wire and a weighted handle, and arranged in such manner, that a varying pressure may be exerted by the operators hand to force the cards directly'against the roller as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus for shufiiing cards, the combination of a roller, a pivoted switch, arranged below said roller and adapted to sep arate said cards and a guide-plate arranged specified.

4. In an apparatus for shufiting cards, the combination of a feedingmechanism, a covered roller and an automatic switch, with a guide-plate and two receptacles, arranged as shown.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- FRANCIS L. BECKER.

WYitnesses:

WM. WACHSMANN, JAMES KENNEDY.

.as shown, to convey them to receptacles, as

5o .1. An apparatus for shufflin g cards, consist- 

